How Many Times?
How many times do I have to forgive someone? The apostle Peter asked Jesus that question once: “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” That question in Matthew 18:21 is important.
After someone sins and offends us a couple of times, we are ready to cut that person off and have nothing to do with him again. What is the cutoff point? Some people just don’t ever seem to change. Well, the Lord answered Peter and established a radical model for Christians to pattern their lives after. He told the apostle, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (v. 22) Basically, there is no limit to the number of times we forgive and restore a person who sins against us. Jesus then used a powerful illustration to help us view forgiveness from God’s perspective. He told a parable about a king who forgave a debt that one of his servants couldn’t pay back in several lifetimes. That man refused to show the same grace to his fellow servant and had him thrown in jail. The king was angry at the servant’s lack of gratefulness for his act of mercy and threw him in jail until he paid all he owed. He couldn’t pay the huge debt before; he certainly couldn’t pay it from jail. That servant needed to learn how to show mercy toward his fellow man. Like that unmerciful servant, we are often guilty of the same ungratefulness. We gladly accepted forgiveness of our debt of sin against God. Then, we refuse to forgive those who have offended us. We, like Peter, rationalize that the person has reached the limit of our grace. And yet, we continue to expect God’s grace every time we sin. Oh, may we learn to show mercy!
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
